EPL: Chelsea’s Costa gets 3-game ban for clash in Arsenal derby

Diego Costa was banned for three matches after receiving a charge of violent conduct during his team’s win over Arsenal, while Arsenal defender Gabriel Paulista had his three-match ban for violent conduct withdrawn by the FA.

Chelsea's Diego Costa, second from right, clashes with Arsenal’s Gabriel Paulista, centre, resulting in Gabriel being sent off during the EPL match at Stamford Bridge , London, on September 19, 2015.(EPA Photo)

Chelsea striker Diego Costa was banned for three matches on Tuesday after receiving a charge of violent conduct during his team’s 2-0 win over Arsenal at Stamford Bridge was upheld by a disciplinary panel, while Arsenal’s Brazilian defender Gabriel Paulista had his three-match ban for violent conduct withdrawn by the English Football Association (FA) following a successful appeal by the club.

Costa had denied an FA charge over Saturday’s incident, not seen by referee Mike Dean, in which he appeared to raise his hands to cover Gunners defender Laurent Koscielny’s face.

But the FA issued a statement on Tuesday, saying its “charge against Diego Costa for violent conduct not seen by the match officials but caught on video has been found proven following an Independent Regulatory Commission hearing.

The decision met with a prompt reaction from Costa’s club. “We are extremely disappointed with the FA Regulatory Commission’s decision to suspend Diego Costa,” Chelsea said in a statement. “We will await their written reasons before commenting further.”

Earlier on Tuesday, Paulista won his appeal against the red card he received for confronting Costa after the initial incident during the weekend’s showcase match in the Premier League.

However, the 24-year-old Brazilian still faces a separate charge of improper conduct for his reaction after being shown the red card by Dean on the stroke of halftime. The Brazilian failed to immediately leave the pitch and then tried to confront Costa before being restrained by his teammates. Gabriel has until 5pm GMT on Thursday to appeal that charge.

Both clubs still face an outstanding charge of failing to control their players during the ill-tempered match, which Arsenal finished with nine men as midfielder Santi Cazorla was sent off for the visitors in the second half.

The withdrawal of Gabriel’s three-match suspension made him available for Arsenal’s third round League Cup tie against fierce north London rival Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday, which the Gunners won 2-1, thanks to a brace from French holding midfielder Mathieu Flamini.